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S Korean presidential frontrunner sorry for racist joke

Conservative party leader apologises after jokingly comparing the colour of a Nigerian student to that of coal.

19 Dec 2015 05:31 GMT

Kim Moo-sung, of the South Korean ruling Saenuri Party, leads in polling ahead of December 2017 presidential elections [EPA]

The frontrunner to be South Korea's next president has apologised after sparking a public uproar for jokingly likening the skin colour of an African scholarship student to coal.

Kim Moo-sung, the leader of the country's ruling conservative Saenuri Party and the leader in polling ahead of the December 2017 elections, issued the apology in the face of public criticism over the gaffe.

"I failed to realise that showing friendliness this way could hurt someone's feelings," Kim wrote on his Facebook page on Friday.

"I am really sorry and there is no excuse. I sincerely apologise from the bottom of my heart."

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He made the quip while delivering coal briquettes to the needy in Seoul alongside a group of foreign exchange students earlier on Friday.

The event was part of a charity programme which drew around 40 students from 27 countries as well as 50 young members of the Saenuri Party.

"Your face colour is the same as the briquettes' colour," the 64-year-old said to a Nigerian student while laughing.

The student, Babalola Joushua Adekunie, said he did not take offence.

"I don't give any special meaning to it," Adekunie later told local news outlet Focus News. "He said it jokingly. He was laughing."